Narrow country lanes to be 20mph

peter_the_piper

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/08/07/pilot-plan-20mph-speed-limit-country-roads-gets-green-light/

I've said for a long time that if a road is too narrow for a white centre line then it should be automatically 30mph. Quite happy with 20 though.

Thoughts?

Brie

I'm quite happy to go as slow as the road needs.  And considering there may be a honking big farm vehicle around any corner I'm very happy to limit what impact I might have when I meet one.  Of course the twonk wanting to do 80 who always seems to be behind me won't be pleased.  I consider moving over to let them pass when they're right up my tailpipe but then think of the accident they are about to cause so usually don't.

shiraz99

A blanket 20mph is a terrible idea, not least it's not the best speed to be in a comfortable gear in most cars, which will also lead to higher pollution.  

oldagetraveller1

The idea is good, in my opinion, as long as the roads the limit is applied to is compatible with that speed. e.g. there's a very narrow  road near me which when leaving the village sports a National Speed limit sign, 60mph, which is ridiculous for that road/lane. As do many others in this area. However, as Brie writes, there's always the pilchard who will think 60mph is a target.

Sadly, there has to be limits and legislation for the idiots.

Enforcing such a limit is a different matter though. H.M. Constabulary are too busy policing our thoughts and not crime!

daivid

I live near Corkscrew lane, hitting 20mph is a pipe dream.

Ectophile

Last year, I was travelling through Somerset.  My satnav decided it was too near rush hour, so I shouldn't go through any towns.  So it took me along every little country lane in the county (or it seemed like that).

There were places where the lane was straight and the hedges were low.  So I could see that nothing was coming.  I stuck my foot down and did 50 to 60MPH, with the car bouncing around wildly on the uneven surface.

But there are many other lanes where trying that would be stupid.  The winding sunken lanes, where you can't see what's around the next bend.  It could be a massive tractor.  Or some idiot trying to overtake a horse on a blind bend (been there).

I don't think a blanket 20MPH speed limit is appropriate.

custardy

Ectophile said:

Last year, I was travelling through Somerset.  My satnav decided it was too near rush hour, so I shouldn't go through any towns.  So it took me along every little country lane in the county (or it seemed like that).

There were places where the lane was straight and the hedges were low.  So I could see that nothing was coming.  I stuck my foot down and did 50 to 60MPH, with the car bouncing around wildly on the uneven surface.

But there are many other lanes where trying that would be stupid.  The winding sunken lanes, where you can't see what's around the next bend.  It could be a massive tractor.  Or some idiot trying to overtake a horse on a blind bend (been there).

I don't think a blanket 20MPH speed limit is appropriate.

As long as the level of driving skill is as low as it is.
Rules must be made for the masses.
I drive a rural road regularly with a blind corner. Drivers blast round it every day like there will never be anything around the corner. 
It was national speed limit, now a 30. Yet we have had a fatality and many crashes since the drop.

brianposter

Single track roads round here. There are places where 40mph is reasonable and others where 15mph is daring. A blanket limit makes no sense.

Flight3287462

You obviously don't live in Scotland where single track roads can go on for mile upon mile.  It would take you forever to get anywhere.

user1977

Flight3287462 said:

You obviously don't live in Scotland where single track roads can go on for mile upon mile.  It would take you forever to get anywhere.

And in open, hedgeless moorland you can often see oncoming traffic from a mile away. More likely to be a risk from suicidal sheep.

Note the proposal linked to seems to be a very specific pilot scheme in Surrey, so not even England-wide.

photome

brianposter said:

Single track roads round here. There are places where 40mph is reasonable and others where 15mph is daring. A blanket limit makes no sense.

exactly my thoughts